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abbreviate this fuck face...

Posted by krux on Friday December 8, 2006 @ 01:33am

acronyms.. yes they have their place. when you are talking computer or network terminology you tend to encounter a lot of them. hell when you talk about the topic of ATM networking alone, you get into multiple hierarchies of acronyms leading to more groups of acronyms. it's enough to fry your brain if you've never worked with it before. what I don't like are the use of acronyms for the sake of using more acronyms.

the company I work for absolutely loves acronyms. problem is they use acronyms which conflict with other acronyms which are in common practice. they'll even go so far as to use an acronym which is already in use elsewhere on the project. I'm constantly having to do context evaluations to try and determine which meaning they are intending in their use of certain acronyms.

"Hmmm... they are the (blah) group and used NTS, but are also talking about computers at the ESF Pad (Exploratory Studies Facility)... do they mean Nevada Test Site, or Network Telecommunications Services?"

if that were not enough, just when they have an acronym which has been establish and you know, having had it repeatedly beaten into your long term memory, they'll change the name of whatever it was and create an entirely new acronym for it. Or not change the name but create a new something which seems suspiciously like it has the same exact purpose as the other something, but you have to try and keep straight in your mind when to use the first something and when to use this new something. why must we try to make things more difficult than they need to be? I really rather not spend my time trying to remember what a bunch of stupid acronyms for things I don't care about mean.

I'll give you another example which never fails to just bug the hell out of me every time I see it. over at thcnet, voltaic has taken a liking to using "FTW" and other acronyms that no one but people on IRC and myspace use. I find it annoying having to do a google search to find out what the hell the cryptic one line message he just posted means. and since I don't care about these acronyms, I don't remember them. the last place I saw such rampant use of needless acronyms was on IRC.

ROTFL (Rolling on the floor laughing)

Are you really? How about you FADHAGZA (Fuck a dead hooker and get zombie aids)

WTG (Way to go)

Gee, thanks you lazy fuck. Guess you didn't really care, or you would have typed those six extra letters.

IMNSHO (In my not so humble opinion)

News flash. Your opinion sucks, no one cares, and you should kill yourself now to spare yourself the horrible lonely existence in the old folks home as you sit there rotting, with the only thing to look forward to being drooling on yourself, and if you are lucky, maybe being smothered by an orderly.

Here's a fun filled page: Parents Guide to Myspace.com

How fucked up is this web site that we really need the following acronym?

HDOP (Help delete online predators)

wooden christ in a toothpick factory, why? there is an acronym for that. are teenagers being so inundated by perverts they needed to save time by having an acronym? turns out it's this.. http://www.missingkids.com/adcouncil/ which at least makes sense.. I can't see the acronym getting a whole lot of use by the people on myspace.

I hope you see my point here. the use of acronyms where they are not needed is bloody annoying. I'm not saying ban all use of acronyms. that is silly. deciding to type NIC instead of Network Interface Card. that's perfectly acceptable. just don't be the idiot who types "NIC Card." does your network interface card card come packaged in card card board? no it doesn't, so stop saying that. how about another example. you're sending a quick text and you're trying to use the stupid number to letter thing on your cell phone. yes you can abbreviate if it makes sense. just don't expect me to know what you mean if you use some obscure new acronym and I haven't been hanging out with all your myspace pals. lets say you are kicking some n00b's ass at UT (which is an acceptable acronym for a gamer) and need to rub it in. but wait, you don't want to get sniped while typing the magna carta. yes, another good use for your quick friend the acronym. and a final example. you're on a message board and have all the time in the world to compose a thoughtful and well versed reply, as your finger is hovering over the "F" key... no! wrong! don't even think about using some pointless acronym like "FTW". for that matter "for the win" is a pretty fucking gay saying in the first place. however, I do see FADHAGZA as being a big internet hit.

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